River guide apparently dies in croc attack

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The South African government said Thursday it was investigating reports that a South African kayaker was killed by a crocodile in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Officials said Hendri Coetzee, an experienced whitewater guide, apparently was attacked by the crocodile as he was leading a party of U.S. kayakers on the Lukuga River through the DRC earlier this week, South Africa's Primedia Broadcasting reported.

South African officials said it sent a team to investigate reports that Coetzee was pulled from his kayak by a crocodile and did not resurface, as well as assist the two Americans. Primedia Broadcasting said the two were expected to return to the United States, but did not say whether they were injured.